Well, after over two weeks of delays due to rain, a hurricane, an ailing mother, and general disorganization, we're finally off on our second trip south! Only got in about 27 nm yesterday, but we've left the dock! Spent the night anchored on the Rhode River.

Our plan today is to make 40 nm to Solomon's Island, and anchor off of Spring Cove marina.

Our general plan is:
ICW to Florida
Okeechobee waterway to Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast to Key West
Key West to Marathon to Key Largo
Key Largo to Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini to New Provedence to Eluthera
Eluthera to The Abacos
Abacos back to Florida
Up the ICW back to the Chesapeake

We're currently off of the mouth of the Potomac, headed south at 4-5 kts under jib only with winds NNW at 12 kts and 1-2 ft following seas. Earlier in the morning, the wind was at 25 with 3-4 ft seas and we were doing 6 kts on a reefed jib!

I envy all of you! My farthest sail is within 5 miles of my marina. I'm trying to gain enough fortitude to plan a spring trip down the Chesapeake, up the Atlantic, into the Delaware bay, and back down the Chesapeake to home trip. Not sure I trust myself for a 5 or 6 day trip like that.

After Oriental, we went to Swansboro. Couldn't get into Dudleys because it's become so silted up we kept running aground! Ended up tying up to the remains of the town dock. Building destroyed, but floating docks mostly survived.

From there, we had a long day to Wrightsville Beach. Beautiful anchorage there with room for lots of boats. Then to Calabash Creek (just before Myrtle Beach), and then spent two days at Osprey Marina (just after Myrtle Beach).

Osprey is a great place! Great rates, great service, and plenty of depth. A real gem.

Today was a short day to Georgetown, SC, where we caught a little of the "Taste of Georgetown Festival. Georgetown seems to have escaped fairly undamaged by Florence and Michael.

Expect to be in Charleston in two more days. Was considering going outside there again, but it doesn't look like there will be a good weather window for that for a while, so we'll keep on pressing on inside.

Ed, thanks for the updates...have been following your blog when I am bogged down at work. I can read it there, but cannot post comments (IT security crap), but we are following you along and living vicariously!

The blog's a few days behind. We're currently anchored behind Cumberland Island, GA, just north of the Florida line. Weather is crappy. 60s, over cast, drizzle, 15 kt wind. We're going to hang here a day until it improves.

Well, we didn't quite escape. After a great day of hiking on Cumberland Island, the next morning it was 38 degrees and foggy!

But we got further "down the road" and it's warmed up again.

We're in St. Augustine for 3 days. Got in yesterday. Did a tour of San Sebastián winery (free samples!) and then a tour of St. Augustine Distillery (more free samples!). Saw the lighting of the Festival of Lights last night. Today's sunny and 70s.

I estimate we're 5 traveling days from Ft. Pierce, where we will leave the boat for a month to come home for Christmas, but we will probably first stop for a day or two in Vero Beach to try and reconnect with some cruisers we haven't seen in two years.

Ed-
You're on the same tack as my friend's boat Honu who is joining us when we do our crossing.
They just anchored in Daytona as well.

We're leaving Sunday from St Pete to sail down thru Marathon and up to Ft Pierce to meet up with them and stage for the stream crossing.

We (Naughty Gypsea) expect to be in Ft Pierce from December 4th to around the 6th.
Let me know if you'd like me to check on Dolce Vita or need anything...

Thanks for the offer. We anchored off Titusville last night. Today we'll head for a nondescript anchorage behind a spoil island near mm 925. Tomorrow, to Vero Beach for 3 days to visit with friends. Then to Harbortown Marina in Ft. Pierce.

We never made it up to Ft Pierce.
We got stuck down here in Marathon and have decided to launch from here because of the constant NNE wind and seas.
It's one front after the other for the next week or so.